Skin Review

Question 1

What is the integumentary system?

Answer 1

Refers to skin and its accessory organs such as oil and sweat glands, sensory receptors as well as hair and nails.

Question 2

What are the functions of the integumentary system?

Answer 2

Sensation
Heat Regulation
Absorption
Protection
Excretion
Secretion

Question 3

What is the difference between excretion and secretion?

Answer 3

Secretion involves the transport of materials from one region of the body to another (ie. saliva, hormones, enzymes), whereas excretion involves the elimination of waste material that is no longer useful to living organisms (ie. sweat, urine, feces).

Question 4

What are proteins?

Answer 4

The basic material/building block for all our body’s tissues. They are the foundation of our cells and skin.

Question 5

What is the hardest form of protein?

Answer 5

Keratin is the hardest form of protein.

Question 6

What is the acid mantle?

Answer 6

• A protective barrier made up of sebum, lipids, sweat, and water. These components form a hydrolipidic film to protect the skin from drying out and exposure to external factors.
• It has a P.H. of 5.5 which allows for protection against pathogens.

Question 7

What is barrier function?

Answer 7

• A protective barrier of the epidermis
• Made up of the corneum and intercellular matrix
• Protects the surface from irritation and transepidermal water loss

Question 8

What is TransEpidermal Water Loss?

Answer 8

The water loss caused by evaporation on the skin’s surface.

Question 9

What happens when the barrier function is damaged?

Answer 9

Dehydration, sensitivity, aging.

Question 10

What is hydrolipidic?

Answer 10

An oil-water balance that protects the skin’s surface.

Question 11

What are Epidermal Growth Factors (EGF’s)?

Answer 11

Hormones that stimulate cells to reproduce and heal.

Question 12

What is the difference between sudoriferous and sebaceous glands?

Answer 12

Sudoriferous: Sweat glands, sudor glands
Sebaceous: Sebum glands, oil glands

Question 13

What is the difference between melanin, melanocytes, and melanosomes?

Answer 13

Melanin: Tiny grains of pigment.
Melanocytes: Cells that produce pigment granules in the basal layer, makes colour for skin, hair, and eyes.
Melanosomes: Pigment carrying granules.

Question 14

What is the dermis?

Answer 14

Dermis: the “true skin”, a support layer of connective tissue made up of collagen and elastin, located below the epidermis.

Question 15

Describe the dermal/epidermal junction.

Answer 15

Epidermal/Dermal Junction: Where the epidermidis meets the dermis, has an undulated (wavelike) pattern that allows exchange of nutrients starts to flatten as we age, causing the skin to loosen and sag

Question 16

Why is the papillary layer so important?

Answer 16

because blood and lymph vessels, which are found here, provide nourishment to all cells of.

Question 17

What is collagen?

Answer 17

• A protein substance of complex fibres that gives
  skin strength and it is also necessary for wound
  healing
• Produced by fibroblasts
• Makes up 70% of the dermis

Question 18

What is elastin?

Answer 18

Elastin is a fibrous protein that forms elastic tissue and gives the skin the ability to stretch and bounce back.

Question 19

What is hyaluronic acid?

Answer 19

A hydrating fluid found in the skin; hydrophilic agent with water binding properties.

Hyaluronic acid has the ability to hold up to 1000 times its weight in water.

Question 20

What are Glycosaminoglycans (GAG’s)?

Answer 20

Large protein, molecules, excellent water, binders, found between the fibres of the dermis. (i.e. hyaluronic acid)

Question 21

Define the reticular layer.

Answer 21

The denser and deeper layer of the dermis comprised, mostly of collagen and elastin.

Question 22

How does skin get its nourishment?

Answer 22

Through blood and lymph via the digestive tract.

Question 23

What are Merkel Cells?

Answer 23

Touch receptors, or sensory cells, in the basal layer.

Question 24

What are Langerhans cells and what are they responsible for?

Answer 24

• The guard cells of the immune system.
• These cells sent unrecognized foreign invaders, such as bacteria, and processes antigens for removal through the lymphatic.

Question 25

Define subcutaneous tissue (aka *hypodermis*).

Answer 25

- Located below the dermis. - Composed of loose, connective tissue, adipose tissue. - 80% of this layer is fat. - Create a protective cushion, gives contour, and smoothness to the body. - Also provides energy for the body. This tissue decreases and things with age age.

Question 26

What are ceramides?

Answer 26

- Waxy, lipid molecule. - Important to the barrier function and water-holding capacity. - Makes up 50% of the lipids found in the intercellular matrix.

Question 27

What are UVA Rays?

Answer 27

- Aging rays - Make up 95% of sun’s UV rays - Longer wavelengths (320-240 nanometers) - Penetrate deeper into the skin and cause genetic damage and cell death. - Weakens collagen and elastin fibres, causing wrinkling and sagging.

Question 28

What are UVB rays?

Answer 28

- Burning rays - Cause ageing and cancer - Shorter wavelengths (292-320 nanometers) - Stronger and more damaging than UVA. - Causes damage to the eyes. - Contributes to the bodies synthesis of vitamin D, and other important minerals.

Question 29

What are free radicals and how do they affect aging?

Answer 29

- Free radicals have an unbalanced electrical charge, they are unstable and a chain reaction of cellular destruction begins as free radicals, steal electrons from other molecules to try to restore themselves to a state of balance. - Unstable molecules cause inflammation, disease, and bio-chemical aging (especially wrinkling and sagging of the skin)

Question 30

What is glycation?

Answer 30

- The binding of a protein molecule to a glucose molecule, resulting in the formation of damaged, nonfunctioning structures, and decreases biological activity. - Caused by an elevation in blood sugar. - Scientist’s have establish that anything that causes a rise in our blood sugar results in inflammation on cellular level. - When blood sugar goes up rapidly and continually, the sugar can actually attached to the collagen in the skin. If you need stiff and inflexible, glycation can also cause wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and many age related diseases, such as arterial stiffening, cataracts, and neurological impairment. - Glycation causes the body to be in inflammatory state, which has many other side effects (ie. DNA damage, tissue, death, internal scaring, cancer, etc.)

Question 31

besides sun exposure, what is another cause of ageing skin and woman?

Answer 31

- Hormonal fluctuations—As we age, estrogen production slows down. - Estrogen is an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and key factor in tissue repair. - Smoking, vaping, drinking, drugs, and poor diet are also factors.

Question 32

What is microcirculation?

Answer 32

- The circulation of blood from the heart to the artérioles (small arteries) to capillaries, and venules (small veins) and then back to the heart. - As we age, hormones are a cause of microcirculation disorders (ie. telangiectasia)

Question 33

What is Telangiectasia (aka couperose skin)?

Answer 33

- The dilation of the capillary walls. - Other causes of couperose are genetics, digestion, alcohol, smoking, sun, damage, harsh cosmetics, trauma, and pregnancy.

Question 34

What is hormone replacement therapy?

Answer 34

- Suggested as a treatment for women experiencing menopause. - Helps to balance the loss of estrogen. - Some therapy’s have been linked to breast cancer. - During menopause, testosterone becomes the more dominant hormone which can result in side effects, such as excessive hair growth, and adult acne.